Dan Laufer takes over as the Head Coach for the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs this season after serving as assistant coach for the 1999-2000 season.
    Laufer, a 29-year-old native of New York City, has already made a major impact on the track and field program.  He took over as field events coach for the Broncs and Lady Broncs last season and, under his tutelage, three athletes set schools records.  Dawne Hill broke the school record in the hammer throw, Rachel Drury set the school record in both the indoor and outdoor pole vaults and Gonzalo Gonzalez broke the previous mark in the indoor shot put.  Even more important than the records was the improvement by the field event athletes as a group.
   Unfortunately, many of his athletes finished their eligibility after last season, leaving the Broncs with a hole to fill.  So Laufer, who also served as the recruiting coordinator last season, rolled up his sleeves and hit the recruiting trail.  The result was an outstanding recruiting class of athletes, focusing on the field events, for the 2000-01 season.  Seven athletes that Laufer recruited have signed grant-in-aids with UTPA, four of which were all-state performers and another athlete finished in the top 10 in the nation in junior college.  Several other athletes will be joining the program as walk-ons, another testament to Laufer’s recruiting ability.
   Despite the fact that he had not been a head coach before, when the opportunity came to take over the reigns of the program, Laufer didn’t hesitate.  He has a clear vision of where he’d like to see the program go, and what the focus of the program should be.
   “This is a great opportunity professionally and personally,” said Laufer.  “Since I started coaching, I have always wanted to be a head coach.  I am grateful to Athletic Director William Weidner and our entire administrative staff for giving me this wonderful opportunity to help rebuild the program.  Personally I am happy in the Rio Grande Valley.  It is a great place to live and I look forward to settling down here.  Our goals are to become a nationally respected track and field program.  After signing two nationally recruited student-athletes in only one year, I think our goal is reasonable.  It won’t be easy, but we have great academic and athletic facilities as well as tremendous support from our administration.  We have to continue to recruit nationally, while continuing to develop relationships locally.  I want to have a program that will make it difficult for any Valley athlete to leave here.”
   UTPA Athletic Director William Weidner said that the decision to bring on Laufer was an easy one for the program.
    “Dan Laufer possesses all of the qualities that one would look for in a successful head coach and is an ideal fit our developing cross country and track and field program,” said Weidner.  “During his stay at UTPA Dan has demonstrated a strong track record of being an excellent recruiter who has the ability to locate, recruit and sign talented student-athletes who excel in both the athletic and academic arenas.  He is well versed with our operation, has developed an outstanding relationship with our current student-athletes and possesses a solid knowledge of our University.  Coach Laufer has earned the respect of our coaching staff and administrative personnel for his strong work ethic, proactive organizational approach and his ability to be a team player within the department.”
   Laufer came to UTPA from Loyola University (Chicago) where he was the assistant track and field coach during the 1998-99 season.  At Loyola, Laufer assisted in all aspects of the team’s operation while specializing in the training of the sprinters and jumpers.  Prior to his time at Loyola, Laufer was the assistant coach at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.  At both Wagner and Loyola he coached field event athletes to conference championships.
    Prior to his time as a coach, Laufer was a standout athlete at Manhattan College (MC) in New York City.  A four-year letterwinner for MC, Laufer was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference pole vault champion in 1992.  Laufer graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Manhattan in 1994.  He is currently an MBA candidate at Wagner College.
   Very active in his profession, Laufer was the Field Events Coach for New York City at the Empire State Games in 1998.  He also works as a consultant for Lakeshore Athletic Services.  He helps to coordinate many prestigious road races such as the Chicago Marathon, Cincinnati Marathon, Madison Marathon and the USA Ironman Triathlon in Lake Placid, N.Y.